Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach
Christian Outreach Ministry to those Incarcerated, with Addictions and our Military
By Rachel del Guidice
Jonathan Butcher, senior policy analyst for the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, discusses the impact on families and children when schools remain closed during COVID-19.
In Matthew 6:25–34, we find the portion of the Sermon on them Mount, where Jesus deals with Anxiety.
Basically His advise if you will is what good is there in worrying? In other words how does it benefit you? In v.25 He asks is life not more than the temporal (food, clothing and shelter) are we not to live for the eternal? In v.26 He notes, all that God does for nature and how much more will He do for His chosen? Finally in our text, what is it you hope to gain? Will worry and extend our lives?
No matter the situation, no matter the problems of life God is in control and His shoulders are big enough for all our burdens.
It’s time. You are invited to join with churches and Christians across the nation for Freedom Sunday on October 11th, a national live stream event from Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino, CA.
Freedom Sunday will address the church’s scriptural and constitutional authority of religious freedom despite government restrictions and overreach. Right now, there are many things that have caused a great deal of fear. But God does not call us to live in a spirit of fear, but calls us to faith, love, and power through Christ.
A NATIONAL LIVE STREAM EVENT
You can watch this event live on October 11th at FreedomSunday2020.com.
Share this invitation with your church along with pastors and leaders in your community as we all unite to take a stand for religious freedom in this country.
Fear strikes everyone, those who deny it are either LIARS or so full of themselves they are just plain to STUPID to recognize the truth.
Today many in America and around the world are “afraid” of the COVID-19 virus. While there was at the beginning reason for concern, I would argue the Biblically fear should not have been and certainly should not continue trouble the hearts and minds of majority of people.
The following is from a good friend LP, Jr. it’s point is simple we have been force fed FEAR via the media over the past 20 years and the results have always been the same.
Even with lists like this, I would argue that the following personnel have more to “fear” daily that most Americans do in a lifetime:
Members of the Armed Forces
Law Enforcement
Fire Fighters
EMT’s
Infectious Disease Health Care Workers
Yet the daily doom and gloom of today’s news and the hardships of these occupations is still no reason to let fear control your life.
Isaiah begins Chapter 43 with one of the Bibles famous, Now this… rendered But now… in the KJV and many others. This signifies that all that proceeded, so let us look back at the end of Chapter 42 for a moment. The God; through Isaiah in short says Israel you have been deaf dumb and blind to all I have done for you. Is there not any among you (a remnant) who hears? Beware the (Fear) wrath of God.
But now – Forgetting the past, this small phrase which connects us to the previous Chapter also delineates the break in God’s wrath and the renewal of His Grace and Mercy
thus saith the Lord – So there can be no doubt whom is speaking Isaiah uses a much used and common biblical phrase
that created thee, O Jacob, – God reminds the Jewish peoples that He alone is the Creator King
and he that formed thee, O Israel, – I am convinced (like many others) that this is a reference to Gentiles
Fear not: – What is there to FEAR? God’s wrath, for their (Jewish Nations) constant disobedience. True Fear is not whatever harm can come to this temporal body but whatever punishment could befall it in eternity. Matthew 10:27-29
for I have redeemed thee, – First God gave them the reason, He formed them, now the promise He has redeemed thee (them) from the fear of eternal punishment. No matter the circumstance, (Jerusalem being destroyed, COVID-19, War Zone, Riots) Christ has won the victory and is the antidote for Fear.
I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. – John Gill comments on this as follows:
I have called thee by thy name; with an effectual calling, which is of particular persons, and those by name, even the same that are redeemed by Christ; for whom he has redeemed by his precious blood, they are called by the grace of God to special blessings of grace, with a high, holy, and heavenly calling; and have no reason to fear anything, since they are the chosen of God; have a right to all spiritual blessings; all things work together for their good; they shall persevere to the end, and at last be brought to glory, to which they are called:
thou art mine; such as are redeemed by Christ, and called by his grace, they are his Father’s gift, and his own purchase; they voluntarily give up themselves to him, under the influence of his Spirit and grace; they are his by profession and possession; they are his portion, people, sheep, and spouse; and his interest in them, and theirs in him, serve to prevent fear; such need not fear wanting anything, nor any enemy, nor perishing, or miscarrying of heaven and happiness, to which fears they are subject.
In the military during the chaos of combat operation there are usually three kinds of responses;
FEARFUL here we have the person who just can not handle the complete and utter chaos and carnage that happens. Whether its the noise, the swiftness of operations, the shooting something triggers them to shut down.
RAMBUL You do do not see a lot of these folks, but every once in a while some huckster gets all worked up on their first operation and thinks they are Rambo, the result is not usually healthy.
HELPFUL This is g the soldier that lets their training kick in, follows orders and gets the job done. Are the scared, yeah, combat is no joke, but they are not going to let their battle buddies down.
We have a choice, we can let FEAR paralyze us. We can let it play games with our minds and convince ourselves that we have much to fear when the only true fear is our eternal state. Can you identify your fears? If so what is you chief fear? Do you know where you will spend eternity? Isaiah 41:10 says:
Do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be afraid, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you; I will help you;
I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand.
What is there to fear when God has us in His palm?
Say What?
Observation: What did I read? What struck you as most meaningful?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean? Overall and the most meaningful? Did it change your view on FEAR?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do? How can I start living it out today?
This essay is part of a special series of the American Project that seeks to address the crisis of loneliness during the global COVID-19 pandemic.
New Yorkers are used to hearing sirens. And then came March’s round-the-clock ambulance wails, every hour of every day. Through the barred windows of my Brooklyn apartment, I watched the streets empty as an unseen contagion drove us inside.
Before the razor wire and guard dogs on Fifth Avenue, before the mass graves in the city’s potter’s field, New York was not perfect, but we had each other. Now, it seems, we are united only by fear and loneliness. “People don’t have anything to lose,” cried one looter smashing the windows on a Duane Reade drugstore in Lower Manhattan this past May. “In the right circumstances, ka-boom.” I’d like to believe he’s wrong…
Everyone gets afraid or has a fear of something. I hate tall ladders, not sure why I can walk around on roof trusses 60′ in the air but get me on a 32′ extension ladder and my knees wobble.
For the Christian we have a place to channel that fear, place to find sanctuary in the storms of life, our Creator Himself calls upon us to simply focus and trust in Him. Faith, the one element that is utter foolishness to unbelievers, is the greatest weapon we have against fear.
CONTEXT:
Unlike most books and chapters of the bible putting this one in context is hard because Chapter 10 is a collection of wise sayings of Solomon. Yet it does help to look at the preceding and following verse when we break it down:
v.23 To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.
To do evil, that is to willfully commit sin. For anyone to do so shows the wickedness of their heart, their complete and utter depravity and their true desires.
a man of understanding, is described in Job’s discourse on the matter 28:20-28 he closes with ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’ In other words to avoid evil (sin), and not to do it, that is true wisdom.
v.24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, And the desire of the righteous will be granted.
The fear of the wicked, what is it that the wicked can fear (many translation render this Dread) ? Although most sinners (wicked people as applied here) those doing evil against the Holy God, think they are all good, deep down their conscience betrays them in the end. Their greatest fear is the evil they have bestowed being brought down on them even more so. They fear they will be brought down from their roost, their places of self imposed power.
the desire of the righteous, this is not some fanciful desire, some worldly desire that modern day, name it and claim it or prosperity gospel charlatans expound. Instead of claiming they are blessed a righteous man cries out for God’s blessings daily. This is the desire of a man of understanding who has wisdom. A desire born from a man who delights themselves in reverential fear of Yahweh, the God of the Holy Bible. You cannot be righteous if you desire anything above God.
v.25 When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, a whirlwind or twister passes by quickly and with great power, destroying most everything in its path. (I know I live in a prime tornado alley areas of the South) As fast as a evil sinner rises to power and mischief the quicker and usually harder their fall. Their greatest fears realized.
the righteous has an everlasting foundation. As many of you know one of my ministries if Church Building so I know the foundation of any building project is key to its success. It needs to be built upon solid ground. Jesus used the example of building upon solid rock Matthew 7:24-25. That foundation is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. It is the foundation of Salvation and Eternal Life that we read in Paul’s First letter to the Corinthians in which he writes For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. (3:11).
CONCLUSION:
Apart from a solid foundation in Christ man will always do evil by resorting to his fallen sinful nature. Sinful man will always Fear or Dread the consequences of his actions because he lives without hope or righteous desire. A righteous man, one who has understanding and wisdom will always Desire the will of God in for their lives and shun evil at every turn.
The question is are you living a life of Dread or Desire?
What the late Dr. R.C. Sproul was referring to is sometimes argued over in Evangelical circles. That is can a redeemed person lose their eternal salvation. I am going to leave that discussion for another day (suffice it to say no) and move on to the topic at hand “The Book of Life” or “Lambs Book of Life.”
There are a number of verses found in the bible regarding this topic here is the list found in the AMPLIFIED BIBLE , the one that I have decided to concentrate on is
Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. 17 “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. 18 Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” (NLT)
Entonces los que temían a Jehová hablaron cada uno a su compañero; y Jehová escuchó y oyó, y fue escrito libro de memoria delante de él para los que temen a Jehová, y para los que piensan en su nombre. 17 Y serán para mí especial tesoro, ha dicho Jehová de los ejércitos, en el día en que yo actúe; y los perdonaré, como el hombre que perdona a su hijo que le sirve. 18 Entonces os volveréis, y discerniréis la diferencia entre el justo y el malo, entre el que sirve a Dios y el que no le sirve. (RVR 1960)
Malachi means “My Messenger” in Hebrew in chapter three v.1-6 he delivers the message the nation of Israel has been asking for. That is God will send the promised Messiah and He will be foretold by a messenger.
In v.7-12 Malachi delivers his final message to the nation of Israel from God, admonishing them for their disobedience and transgressions.
Verses 13-18 contain two parts one is the very clear distinction between the Righteous and the Wicked. The Second contained in v.16-18 declares God’s promise of Mercy for His chosen people.
Let us break it down:
v.16
those who feared the Lord spoke with each other – keep in mind that God had just reprimanded them and now they have repented, saw the error of their ways. What do they do the conversed among themselves to encourage and comfort one another and build up one another, (1 Thess 5:11)
and the Lord listened to what they said – Wow, what an amazing phrase, what a promise, God listens to those who fear (revere) Him.
a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name – There is a two part theological implication here, one to be written in the Book of Life (remembrance) one must first fear or highly revere God and secondly we must do it for life. This is not a once and done deal from our side of the street. You can not decide today I will Love and fear God but tomorrow I won’t and have any expectation f eternal life.
v.17
They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies – I love this, God is the Commander in Chief of the greatest Army EVER and for those who repent, fear and honor His name for life He will call you His people. Hallelujah!
“On the day when I act in judgment, – Watch out judgement, what judgement I thought when I said that little old prayer I was good to go. Think again, 2 Corinthians 5:10 (AMP) says: For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the [a]judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or [b]bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].
they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. – The Good News is God promises no eternal damnation to those whom He has called His own. That does not excuse God’s children from redeeming their time on earth wisely.
v.18
Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” – I am not sure there is a better concise commentary on this verse than that of Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary Then shall ye … discern—Then shall ye see the falseness of your calumny against God’s government (Mal 3:15), that the “proud” and wicked prosper. Do not judge before the time till My work is complete. It is in part to test your disposition to trust in God in spite of perplexing appearances, and in order to make your service less mercenary, that the present blended state is allowed; but at last all (“ye,” both godly and ungodly) shall see the eternal difference there really is “between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not” (Ps 58:11).
CONCLUSION:
As 2 Cor 5:10 points out we will be judged by our works and one of the best works I can think of is to offer prayers of praise by every true believer for being in the Book of Life. Another is to offer prayers of supplication for all our unsaved family, friends, co-workers to join them. God has promised Eternal Life to those that Fear and Honor His name forever; He also promises eternal damnation for those who reject His offer of Grace and Mercy. I pray you are counted among them in the Book.
Paul is writing to Timothy, and it is Timothy’s first experience as a leader on his own. He had previously been Paul’s partner in the ministry but now he was in charge of the operation and naturally had some trepidation (fear) of screwing up.
As service members it is easy to relate to Timothy, the first time we are assigned roles as (usually) E-4 Corporals, Petty Officer 3rd or Sr. Airman the pressure is on to preform and there is a natural fear of failure. As the chart below shows with an increase in rank the duties and responsibility do not get any easier. In fact the bigger the insignia the more there is for you to do.
Yet Paul reminds Timothy, it is God who intimately places us in positions of authority and His authority is supreme. We can be empowered by His Holy Spirit when we call upon His strength and power and not our own.
Read the commentary and answer this weeks questions. As always may you be edified and God glorified. – Mike
Commentary
Alexander MacLaren’s Expositions of Holy Scripture
Today’s Questions
Say What?
Observation: What did I read? What struck you as most meaningful?
So What?
Interpretation: What does it mean? Overall and the most meaningful? Did it change your view on Men of God?
Now What?
Application: How does it apply to me?
Then What?
Implementation: What do I do? How can I start living it out today?
There is an old adage in the military that goes “there are no atheists in foxholes.” While the exact origins can not be determined the context is pretty clear, in times of extreme duress, fear or stress men (mankind) will turn to (hope in) God to get them out of their present situation. The problem is most don’t give a hoot about God the moment the crisis is over.
Our Bible verse for today is different. David begins this Psalm asking v.1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far from my deliverance and from my words of groaning? Sound familiar, it should this was repeated by our Lord and Savior on the Cross. David feels alone and abandoned, he has been calling out to God v.2 but appears to ignore his pleas.
In v.3-8 David recalls, his lowly position in life how he has endured scorn and ridicule, again the parallels to Christ can not be missed. Then in v.9-10 he shifts gears a little and acknowledges God’s divine hand in his life from birth forward. Once again the comparisons to Christ are undeniable.
Finally in our main text v.11 David cries out:
Don’t be far from me; His fear is that God has abandoned him, his prayer is that He would be near. This should be the daily prayer of every believer, to have God by our side through thick and thin.
because distress is near; Why do we need God near, because distress or trouble is always nearby. 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Listen the devil is not about to come up introduce himself and say I am hear to make you do sinful (evil) things. Trouble come in many forms and many are so sneaky and underhanded your are not even aware your doing something wrong until it is too late.
and there’s no one to help; Who are you going to call on, that neighbor or family member or battle buddy that is living in the world? Yes I know as Christians we have a Church family we can count on BUT nothing compares to the helper we have in Christ John 14:16 (AMP) And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), to be with you forever—
I encourage you as did the Psalmist (105:4) to daily; Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
